734 rejoice over new citizenship

Hundreds take U.S. oath in ceremony

From left, U.S. Army Spc. Cleonice Pandini, a native of Brazil, Army Spc. Soumaila Bance, a native of the Ivory Coast, and Juan Rodriguez of Belchertown, also a member of the U.S. Army, take the oath of citizenship at Mechanics Hall yesterday. (T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON)

WORCESTER 
As a U.S. Army specialist, Cleonice Pandini, 32, was willing to lay down her life for the United States — even though it officially wasn’t her country.

Although Ms. Pandini was a permanent U.S. resident for eight years and served in the military, she was not a citizen.

This all changed yesterday, as Ms. Pandini, originally from Brazil, joined 733 other permanent residents from an estimated 150 countries in taking the oath for citizenship at Mechanics Hall.

“I’m so glad to finally be a part of this country,” she said, wearing her military uniform and a huge smile. “I’m excited to continue serving the country as my own now.”

Ms. Pandini was among five members of the military taking the oath.

“These people are fighting for our country right now,” said Anthony Violanti, a supervisor at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “They’re willing to shed their blood without even being citizens of this country.”

The U.S. military allows residents with green cards or valid visas to serve, although they cannot become commissioned officers, according to usimmigrationsupport.org.

More than 40,000 non-citizens are in the armed services, according to an April 5, 2007, Voice of San Diego article.

Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV officiated at the naturalization ceremony. After everyone present was declared a citizen, the packed hall exploded in cheers and applause, miniature American flags waving from every hand. From the balconies, the friends and families of the new citizens flashed pictures and celebrated with their loved ones.

“This nation now belongs to each of you every bit as it does to those who were born here,” Judge Saylor said during the ceremony. “May you and your children and your grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoy the blessings of the sacrifices you have made to get to this place today.”

The ceremony was the second of its kind in the past year, Mr. Violanti said, with 27,000 state residents becoming citizens in the past fiscal year alone.

To undergo the naturalization process, a permanent resident of five years must show good moral character, be proficient in English, and pass a test on U.S. government and history.

Before she became a citizen yesterday, Kim Huynh, 42, who came to the United States from Vietnam in 1975 because of the Vietnam War, said life was difficult.

“You get turned away a lot when you’re not a citizen,” she said. “You have to carry a green card everywhere. You’re not recognized.”

Now that she is a citizen, Mrs. Huynh said, she believes she will have more opportunities.

“I want to bring my husband here, I want to get better jobs, and improve myself and my life,” she said. “I feel like the United States has everything. There’s nothing out there that I’m missing.”

Kesnel Joseph, 40, who emigrated from Haiti 35 years ago, is excited to be able to vote.

“I get to have a say,” he said. “As a non-citizen, it’s more like you don’t have any power. You’re a second-class citizen; you don’t have any say in what goes on politically.”

For Army Spc. Soumaila Bance, who emigrated from the Ivory Coast eight years ago, the greatest incentive for becoming a citizen is just being able to continue serving in the military.

“It is the greatest honor I could do for the country,” he said, as family members and new citizens swarmed around him, laughing and taking pictures. “Instead of having to serve every individual, which is pretty much impossible, I can serve the Army, the whole country, the community.